v.1 since we have been called by God Himself to minister to a lost and brokenworld. 我們被上帝呼召去服侍失喪和破碎的世界。

v.1 since we have received mercy (Romans 5:6,8) 我們既然蒙憐憫 （羅馬書5:6,8)。

v.2 since we have renounced secret and shameful ways. Since we do not adulterate the Word of God, because we do not change the message to suit thehearers, because we do not take the sting out of the Word of God that is able totransform lives 我們已經將那些暗昧可恥的事都棄了，不講上帝的道理，因為我們所傳講的不是要使人聽了悅耳，我們知道上帝的話語可以改變人的生命。

v.6 Since God through Christ has given us the knowledge of Himself 上帝已經藉著耶穌賜給我們有關的知識。

v.7 Since we have this great, matchless treasure, even in the broken vessels thatwe are, since we have this treasure that we have right here, right now 我們在此時此刻所擁有個既大又無可取代的寶物，雖然我們都是破碎的人。

v.12 because life is at work in us, because the very power of God is at work in our lives 因為上帝的力量在我們的生命中作工。

v.14 Because we know that one day we will participate in the resurrection of the righteous, because one day we will be raised to life, to never experience death again. 因為有一天我們會和其他的基督徒一同復活，將來我們再也不用經歷死亡。

v.15 because the grace of God is sweeping the nations as we speak, bringingmany into the Kingdom of God, all abounding to the glory of God more and more 因為上帝正用 的恩典在世界各國行大事，正在帶領許多人進入的榮耀的國 度，人數一直不斷地增加。

v.16 because all of this is true, it is a matter of fact, 因為以上所說的都是事實，所有的一切都是極其美好的事實，我們不需要喪膽。

II. Because all of this (vs.1-15) is glorious, because it is true, we do not lose heart.

v.16 the Christian life is not one without pain and suffering (John 16:33) 基督徒的生活並不是沒有痛苦和困難的（約翰福音16:33)。

Our outer man is, 我們的外體

decaying 雖然毀壞

growing old 我們會老。

Fighting our flesh 與我們的血氣爭戰。

Trials and troubles in this life 生命中的試和痛苦。

Revelation 11:18 We do not lose heart! This is how James can say in James 1:2 count it pure joy when you suffer trials of various kinds （啓示錄11:18）我們不喪膽！ 就是為什麼在雅各書1:2，雅各說：落在百般 的試中，都要以為大喜樂。

How is this possible? 當困難臨到時，我們怎麼可能會有喜樂 ？

III. Readjusting our focus. 重新調整我們的焦距。

We are renewed by God daily. He is the One renewing us. – whatever comes our way we can go through it, because God is daily renewing us through His precious promises, and His Spirit which lives in us. Our trials are momentary, they are not going to last. There is not going to be any

comparison to the glory that is going to be ours that will last throughout eternity.Our focus is not to be on the world, or the things of the world, but upon the eternal unseen things to come.